Maine’s yellow flag law failed my family. Vote yes on Question 2.

By James LaPlante

James LaPlante of South Portland is a father and small business owner who has advocated for smarter gun laws in Maine to help prevent tragedies like the one that happened to his brother and many other Mainers.

When Maine experienced its deadliest mass shooting in Lewiston in 2023 and we learned the details about the shooter in the weeks to come, it struck a nerve. It brought me back to my own personal struggle dealing with a mentally ill brother who stockpiled weapons and ammunition.

The parallels between Robert Card and my brother were unsettling. My brother was diagnosed with bi-polar schizophrenia and had been having episodes of paranoia where he was convinced that people were spreading rumors about him – similar to the paranoid rumors that Robert Card reportedly heard and saw. My brother would tell me how the local grocery store clerk was laughing at him because she was in on it.

His story ended differently. My brother took his life with one of his many guns and, while it was terrible to lose him in this way, when I think of Robert Card and the Lewiston shootings it could have ended much worse. I believe Question 2 could have saved my brother’s life, and I’m voting “yes” to try to prevent other families from going through this.

Continue reading here at the Bangor Daily News.